Dinky Groves Day Nursery

Inspection of Dinky Groves Day Nursery Door 84 Youth Space, 84 Lowther Street, YORK YO31 7LX

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not applicable

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The provision is good

Children are very happy and settled in nursery. They benefit greatly from the warm trusting relationships with staff and the friendships with their peers. They say they love playing with their friends. Younger children look to a familiar adult for reassurance as they attempt a new task. They smile broadly at the encouragement they receive. They snuggle comfortably with the staff after their nap until they feel reassured.

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The provision is good

Children confidently follow well-rehearsed daily routines. These promote their learning and good behaviour. For example, older children readily help to tidy up. Children's behaviour is consistently very good because they know what is expected of them. Older children settle quickly to listen to a story. They join in confidently at group time to discuss how they are feeling. They knowledgeably help to complete the daily calendar. Younger children calmly have their hands washed or wiped before lunch. They happily get their coats on because they know they are going outside to play.

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The provision is good

Appropriate restrictions have been put in place to help maintain a safe environment, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the restrictions, children settle well. Parents say they receive excellent information every day via the online application.

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need to do better?

n The manager supports senior staff to plan an interesting curriculum for the children in their care. This is effectively delivered and covers all areas of learning. For example, a project on healthy eating helps children to understand what their bodies need. The project also enables children to practise their skills in communication, counting, drawing and matching. n Staff skilfully provide lots of opportunities for children to practise what they know and can do. This helps children develop good recall and confidence in their knowledge. For example, staff invite children to recount why milk is good for them as they play the shopping list game. Children are praised warmly when they remember how they made pancakes as they play in the pretend shop. n The staff team work well together. They talk with enthusiasm about how their training supports their practice. The setting's improvement plans are appropriate

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need to do better?

and understood by all staff. Senior staff model good quality teaching to others. Less-experienced staff say that they enjoy their work and feel well supported by seniors. The manager has good oversight of staff's general capabilities. However, there are times when observations of staff practice are not sufficiently detailed. For example, staff's occasional use of poor grammar goes unnoticed and, therefore, unaddressed.

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need to do better?

8 March 2022 n There is a strong focus on developing children's language. Staff engage children in conversation at every opportunity. They are enthusiastic about their further training to aid their practice. Simple sign language is used, so that all children can express themselves. Staff effectively increase children's vocabulary while in the nursery. Where children need more support, staff identify next steps to help them to catch up with their peers. However, this is not always effectively communicated to parents via the online application. n Children enjoy books, stories and rhymes. Staff actively engage children in stories. Older children join in enthusiastically with familiar phrases in their favourite books. Younger children are enthralled by the pop-up pictures and ask for the same book to be read again. n Children work up a healthy appetite as they play actively outdoors in the fresh air. They enjoy their healthy lunch and have pleasant table manners. They

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need to do better?

develop their strength and coordination as they move the crates and reels to create a walkway. Younger children balance very well as they step carefully across the construction. Babies and toddlers proudly pull themselves up on their climbing frame. They hold on carefully as they cross the bridge and are helped down the slide. n Staff provide a good range of opportunities for children to investigate and consider their findings. They concentrate for prolonged periods as they use magnifying glasses to examine the insects in the water and under the logs. Children are fascinated as they search for items that will stick to their magnets.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff understand signs that might mean a child is at risk of harm. They also know who to speak to if they are concerned about a child. Senior staff have experience of working with safeguarding authorities to secure support for children and their families. Safeguarding training is prioritised. Newly recruited staff understand how to keep children safe because this is covered in their initial induction. Children learn the necessary skills to keep themselves safe. For example, they demonstrate how they have been taught to make a fruit kebab without injuring themselves with the skewer.

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should:

n share children's appropriate next steps more effectively with parents, so that they can better support their children's language skills n monitor the quality of staff interaction in even more detail, so that children's learning can be further enhanced.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2632291 Local authority York Inspection number 10217106 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 28 Number of children on roll 42 Name of registered person Dinky Groves Day Nursery Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 07707712453 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Dinky Groves Day Nursery registered in 2021. The nursery employs nine members of childcare staff. Of these, three hold appropriate early years qualifications at level and two who are unqualified. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the provider received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider n The inspector observed children taking part in a range of activities both indoors and out and discussed their learning with staff. n The inspector spoke with the manager and staff during the inspection. Parents and children also contributed their views and these were taken into account. n The inspector observed the quality of care and teaching, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning, development and welfare. The inspector also carried out a joint observation with the manager. n The inspector looked at a sample of documents and records. This included evidence of the suitability of staff working in the provision and a range of other documentation, required for the safe and effective management of the provision.

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Inspection activities

We carried out this inspection under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children's learning, development and care, known as the early years foundation stage.

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Inspection activities

8 March 2022 regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children's services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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